Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3

Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 is a 10-core, 20-thread server processor built on Intel’s 22 nm Haswell-EP architecture, operating at a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 2.60 GHz. It carries a 105 W TDP, uses the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform, and supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The chip is end-of-life, having launched in 2015, and its benchmark data places it at the 51st percentile among all CPUs, indicating a mid-pack standing in the current database landscape.

Benchmark Performance

The Cinebench results for the Xeon E5-4620 v3 reveal a processor whose multi-threaded capability is its primary strength, though its single-thread showing is modest by contemporary standards. In Cinebench R23, the chip scores 8946 points in the multi-core test and 1263 points in single-core. The multi-core figure is roughly seven times the single-core score, reflecting the scaling expected from 10 physical cores with Hyper-Threading. In the older Cinebench R20 suite, the scores are 3757 (multi-core) and 530 (single-core), while Cinebench R15 yields 901 and 127 respectively. These numbers are consistent across generations of the test, showing linear performance scaling as the workload expands from single to multi-threaded.

The average benchmark score across all tests is 2587, which places the processor nearly exactly at the midpoint of the database’s CPU distribution (51st percentile). This is a crucial indicator: the Xeon is not a top-tier part, but it is also not a laggard. Its nearest rival comparisons sharpen this picture. Against the Intel Core i5-1345UE, the Xeon is virtually tied, with a delta of -0.2% (the rival scores 2593). Against the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE and Intel Core i7-1195G7, both scoring 2596, the Xeon trails by 0.3%. These sub-1% differences are within measurement noise, meaning the Xeon is statistically indistinguishable from these three rivals in aggregate performance.

The only rival where the Xeon leads is the Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3, which scores 2568, giving the E5-4620 v3 a 0.7% advantage. Again, this is a marginal edge. The practical interpretation is that the E5-4620 v3 sits in a performance tier where 10 cores deliver aggregate throughput comparable to modern low-power laptop chips (i5-1345UE) and older 4-core/8-thread mobile parts (i7-1195G7). The single-core scores tell a starker story: 1263 in R23 is roughly half of what a modern desktop flagship achieves, so the Xeon’s aggregate parity is achieved purely through core count, not per-core efficiency.

Who Should Consider It

Given the benchmark profile, this processor is suited for workloads that are explicitly multi-threaded and can utilize 20 threads. In rendering tasks, the Cinebench multi-core scores — 8946 in R23 — demonstrate that the chip can handle substantial parallel compute, though it will be slower than modern high-core-count desktop or server parts. For video encoding, 3D scene rendering, or scientific simulations that scale across cores, the E5-4620 v3 provides a functional baseline.

Gaming is not a recommended use case. The single-core score of 1263 in Cinebench R23 is low enough that frame-rate-limited scenarios in modern games will likely bottleneck, even if the GPU is powerful. Most game engines rely heavily on 1-4 thread performance, where this chip’s 2000 MHz base clock and 2.60 GHz boost are unimpressive. The lack of an integrated GPU also forces a discrete graphics card, which is standard for this socket, but the CPU’s single-thread ceiling will cap performance in many titles.

Office productivity and general desktop use are acceptable but unremarkable. The 51st percentile standing means that for everyday tasks — web browsing, document editing, spreadsheet work — the chip will feel responsive enough, but the power draw and platform costs (server motherboard, DDR4 RDIMMs) make it an odd choice for a typical office PC. The intended audience is clearly server/workstation deployments where multi-threaded throughput per socket matters and where the 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes and quad-channel memory bandwidth (59.7 GB/s) are utilized for storage arrays or accelerator cards.

Power and Thermals

The 105 W TDP places the E5-4620 v3 in a moderate power class for a server CPU of its era. This is not a high-core-count flagship with a 150 W+ envelope; it is a mainstream Xeon that can be cooled by a capable air cooler or a basic server heatsink. The 22 nm process node and 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die mean that heat density is manageable, but the chip will still require proper airflow in a chassis designed for rack or tower servers.

The boost clock of 2.60 GHz is modest, and under full multi-core load, the processor will likely sustain near that frequency if thermals permit. Since the TDP is only 105 W, the cooling requirement is not extreme — a single-socket server motherboard with a passive heatsink and chassis fan should suffice. However, the platform itself (Intel Socket 2011-3) is a workstation/server class, so users should not expect a quiet desktop cooling solution to be trivial to mount; the socket requires specific coolers that accommodate the larger substrate. The end-of-life status also means that replacement cooling brackets may require third-party adapters.

How It Compares

vs. Intel Core i5-1345UE: The Xeon E5-4620 v3 is effectively tied with this modern low-power laptop chip, trailing by just 0.2% in average score (2587 vs. 2593). This is a remarkable parity given the architectural gulf: the i5-1345UE is a 2023-era hybrid-core mobile part, while the Xeon is a 2015 server chip. The Xeon achieves this through 10 cores versus the i5’s likely fewer performance cores, but the i5 will have vastly superior single-thread performance and far lower power consumption. For server workloads that can use 20 threads, the Xeon remains viable; for any latency-sensitive or light-threaded task, the i5 is clearly better.

vs. AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE: The delta is -0.3%, with the AMD part scoring 2596. This Ryzen 3 is a 4-core/8-thread desktop APU with integrated graphics, so it represents a completely different market segment. The Xeon’s aggregate parity is again a function of core count, but the Ryzen will have better per-core speed and a built-in GPU. The Xeon’s only advantages are its 40 PCIe lanes and quad-channel memory, which matter for server I/O, not for typical desktop usage.

vs. Intel Core i7-1195G7: Another 0.3% deficit (2596 vs. 2587). The i7-1195G7 is a 4-core/8-thread Tiger Lake laptop part with high boost clocks and Iris Xe graphics. In multi-threaded workloads, the Xeon’s 10 cores do not decisively beat the i7’s 4 cores, which speaks to the massive IPC improvements Intel made between Haswell and Tiger Lake. For any single-threaded or lightly-threaded application, the i7-1195G7 will dominate the Xeon, but the Xeon retains an edge in memory bandwidth and PCIe lane count for workstation peripherals.

vs. Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3: The Xeon E5-4620 v3 leads its sibling by 0.7% (2587 vs. 2568). Both are Haswell-EP parts, but the E5-2643 v3 typically has fewer cores at a higher clock. The data shows that the 10-core E5-4620 v3 edges out the rival in aggregate, but the delta is small enough that workload-specific behavior will vary. If a task is heavily parallel, the E5-4620 v3 should win; if it is latency-bound, the E5-2643 v3’s likely higher boost clock would prevail.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3?

A: The average benchmark score across all tests in the database is 2587, placing it at the 51st percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How does it compare to the Intel Core i5-1345UE?

A: The Xeon is 0.2% slower in average score (2587 vs. 2593), making the two statistically equivalent in aggregate performance.

Q: What is the multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The chip scores 8946 points in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test.

Q: Does this processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, ECC memory support is listed as true, and the chip uses a quad-channel DDR4 memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the single-core performance in Cinebench R20?

A: The single-core score in Cinebench R20 is 530 points, which is low compared to modern processors.

Q: What socket does this CPU use?

A: It uses the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform, which is shared with other Haswell-EP Xeon processors.

Q: What is the launch MSRP?

A: The launch MSRP is $1668, though the product is now end-of-life with a production status of discontinued.